Sports projectile shaped bead necklace and method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

A sports team necklace has a necklace string with beads directly molded thereto. The beads include sports projectile shaped beads. In one embodiment, a majority of beads are of a smaller size and one or more is larger and can be a pendant. In another embodiment, colored groups of beads are arranged sequentially, the colored groups representing team colors. In another embodiment smaller beads display alternating groups of beads, each a different team color and a pendant carries a team color or colors.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] My co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/125,191, filedJun. 20, 2000, for “Sports Beads”, is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.60/214,532, filed Jun. 27, 2000, incorporated herein by reference, ishereby claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to necklaces. More particularly,the present invention relates to an improved necklace containing sportsprojectile (e.g. baseball, football, soccer ball, hockey puck, etc.)shaped beads and one or more enlarged bead(s) or pendant beads.

[0005] 2. General Background of the Invention

[0006] Prior art necklaces have been sold containing baseball orfootball shaped beads. These beads are typically hollow beads which arestrung onto a string individually. These prior art necklaces were notprovided with smaller beads and pendants (or larger beads) but wererather hollow beads of generally uniform size and shape.

[0007] The following patents are incorporated herein by reference: U.S.Pat. Nos. 1,958,841; 2,008,005; 2,163,814; 2,253,659; 2,577,584;2,893,095; 3,091,030 and D-206,176.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 1,958,841 discloses a beaded string and showsmolding the bead onto a string to form an integral continuous string ofbeads.

[0009] U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,163,814; 2,253,659; and 2,577,584 discloseornamental articles that are integral units in that the ornaments aremolded onto support wires or rods.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,030 discloses a belt formed with beadsintegrally molded onto a fiber support.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention provides an improved necklace that has aplurality of smaller beads fastened together to define a necklace body,a majority of the smaller beads having a sports projectile shape such asfor example a football, baseball, basketball, soccer ball, or hockeypuck.

[0012] The smaller beads can include a plurality of alternating groupsof smaller beads of differing colors. For example, there can be provideda first group of adjacent beads of, for example, eight beads of a redcolor. On either side of the group of eight red beads, there can beprovided other groups of beads of different colors such as, for example,eight beads of gold color. A larger bead or pendant is supported by thenecklace body, the larger bead displaying one of the first or secondcolors or both of the first and second colors of the first and secondgroups of smaller beads.

[0013] The present invention provides an improved method of marketing asports souvenir for a team that has at least two team colors. The methodincludes providing a souvenir in the form of a necklace body thatincludes multiple, spaced apart smaller beads having a shape of a sportsprojectile, and a larger bead or pendant that displays at least one ofthe team colors thereon. The method also includes grouping the beads incolored groups of one team color followed by another team color. Themethod includes marketing the souvenir necklace to a sports fan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] For a further understanding of the nature, objects, andadvantages of the present invention, reference should be had to thefollowing detailed description, read in conjunction with the followingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements andwherein:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of myinvention, a necklace of relatively small football-shaped beads having arelatively large football-shaped bead attached thereto as a pendant;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of myinvention, a necklace of relatively small baseball-shaped beads having arelatively large baseball-shaped bead attached thereto as a pendant;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of myinvention, a necklace of relatively small basketball-shaped beads havinga relatively large basketball-shaped bead attached thereto as a pendant;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of myinvention, a necklace of relatively small soccer ball-shaped beadshaving a relatively large soccer ball-shaped bead attached thereto as apendant;

[0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of myinvention, a necklace of relatively small football-shaped beads;

[0020]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a sixth embodiment of myinvention, a necklace of relatively small baseball-shaped beads;

[0021]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a seventh embodiment of myinvention, a necklace of relatively small basketball-shaped beads;

[0022]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sports bead necklace showing aneighth embodiment of my invention, a necklace of relatively small soccerball-shaped beads;

[0023]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the ninth embodiment ofthe apparatus of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferredembodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and showingparticularly the attachment of the beads to the string;

[0026]FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along lines 12-12 of FIG. 11;and

[0027] FIGS. 13-14 are sectional views illustrating the method of thepresent invention, showing beads being directly molded to a supportingstring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028]FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the apparatus of the presentinvention designated generally by the numeral 10. Necklace 10 iscomprised of a plurality of smaller beads 11 mounted upon string 12. Inthe preferred embodiment, these smaller beads 11 are directly molded tothe string 12 and are thus solid in construction. A larger bead 13 isalso attached to the necklace body which is comprised of the necklacestring 12 and the smaller beads 11. The larger bead 13 can be in theform of a pendant or can simply be a larger bead that replaces some ofthe smaller beads 11.

[0029] Each of the beads 11 in FIG. 1 is preferably a sports projectile,namely a football having a tapered end 14, tapered end 15 and a largecentral portion 16. Each of the beads 11, 13 preferably has one or moresimulated seams 17 and can include simulated laces 18.

[0030] In FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the apparatus of the presentinvention, designated generally by the numeral 20. Necklace 20 includessmaller beads 21 and a larger bead 23. If desired, more than one largerbead 23 can be supported by the necklace body which is comprised ofstring 22 and smaller beads 21 that are preferably directly moldedthereto.

[0031] Each of the smaller 21 and larger 23 beads preferably providessimulated stitching 24. The necklace 20 of FIG. 2 thus includes aplurality of baseball shaped sports projectile like beads 21 and alarger baseball simulated bead 23 as shown. The bead 23 can be in theform of a pendant that depends from the necklace body that is comprisedof the smaller beads 21 and string 22.

[0032] In FIG. 3, a third embodiment of the apparatus of the presentinvention is shown, designated generally by the numeral 30. Necklace 30is comprised of a plurality of smaller beads 31 mounted upon string 32.In FIG. 3, the smaller beads 31 are preferably directly molded to string32. Larger bead 33 can be in the form of a pendant as shown in FIG. 3 orcan be simply a larger bead on string 32 that replaces some of thesmaller beads 31. The larger bead 33 preferably provides one or moresimulated seams 34 as shown. Similarly, the smaller beads 31 can provideone or more simulated seams.

[0033] In FIG. 4, another embodiment of the apparatus of the presentinvention is shown designated generally by the numeral 40. The necklace40 includes a necklace body that is comprised of smaller beads 41 andstring 42. In FIG. 4, the smaller beads 41 are preferably directlymolded to the string 42. A larger bead 43 can be in the form of apendant or can be molded directly to string 42 in the same generalposition as the smaller beads 41, with the larger bead 43 replacing someof the smaller beads 41. The necklace 40 of FIG. 4 has smaller beads 41and larger beads 43 that each simulate a soccer ball. Thus, each of thebeads 41, 43 can have a plurality of panels 44, 45 including lightercolored panels 44 and darker colored panels 45. Simulated seams 46 areprovided on both smaller beads 41 and larger bead 43, the seams 46marking the boundary between adjacent panels 44, 45.

[0034] In FIG. 5, a necklace is shown, designated generally by thenumeral 50 that is comprised entirely of small, football shaped beads 11molded directly to a string 12.

[0035] In FIG. 6, the necklace 51 shown is comprised entirely of smallerbeads 21 that are of a simulated baseball shape, molded directly tostring 22.

[0036] In FIG. 7, the necklace 52 is comprised entirely of small beads31 that simulate basketballs, each bead 31 molded directly to string 32.

[0037] In FIG. 8, the necklace 53 is comprised entirely of smaller beads41 that simulate soccer balls, each bead 41 molded directly to string42.

[0038] In FIGS. 9-12, the necklace 55 shown includes groups of beads ofalternating colors, including small beads 57 of a first color (forexample, eight beads, gold in color), and a second group of beads 58 ofa second color (for example gold). Thus, the necklace 55 includes atotal of forty-eight small beads. These small beads include three groupsof eight each of the first color, beads 57 and three groups of eightbeads 58 each of the second color. The groups of beads alternate such asfor example, eight red beads, eight gold beads, eight red beads, etc.

[0039] A larger bead or a pendant 59 is supported by necklace body thatincludes the string 56 and the beads 57, 58. The pendant 59 preferablyincludes a plurality of displayed colors, including at least a firstcolor 60 (e.g. gold) that corresponds to the color of the first group ofsmall beads 57 of first color. The pendant 59 also includes a secondcolor 61 (e.g. red) that corresponds to the color of the small beads 58of a second color. The pendant 59 is preferably in the form of a teamlogo and provides a plurality of colors, at least two of the colors(i.e. team colors) being the same colors that are displayed in the smallbeads 57, 58.

[0040]FIGS. 13 and 14 show a method of manufacture of any of thenecklaces of FIGS. 1-12. The necklace, such as necklace 55 can beconstructed by directly molding the smaller beads 57, 58 to thesupporting necklace string 56. If desired, a large bead that is largerthan bead 57 or 58 can be attached, (directly molded) to string 56. Thisdirect molding can be accomplished by providing upper and lower moldsections, each having a cavity that corresponds in shape to one half ofeach bead. String 56 is supported at the interface that is defined bysurfaces 66 and 67 of the respective mold sections 62, 64.

[0041] The lower mold section 62 provides a plurality of cavities 63that are spaced at intervals, each of the cavities 63 can be shaped todefine one half of the football shaped bead 57 or 58 shown in FIG. 11.Likewise, the upper mold section 64 provides a plurality of cavities 65that correspond in shape to one half of the football shaped beads 57, 58of FIG. 11. Upon assembly of one mold section 62 to the other 64, thesurfaces 67, 68 meet and the cavities 63, 65 align so that materialadded to the interior of the cavities 63, 65 as aligned in FIG. 14provide football shaped beads 57, 58. Similar molds can be provided forthe various other shapes that are shown in FIGS. 1-8 such as basketballshaped cavities (or soccer ball, baseball, or hockey puck shapes).

[0042] Once a string 56 of beads 57, 58 has been manufactured using moldsections 62, 64, the necklace of FIG. 9 can be completed by glueing orotherwise connecting the ends together at connections 68 shown in FIGS.9 and 11.

[0043] The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for usein the present invention: PARTS LIST Number Description 10 necklace 11smaller bead 12 string 13 larger bead 14 tapered end 15 tapered end 16large central portion 17 simulated seam 18 simulated laces 20 necklace21 smaller bead 22 string 23 larger bead 24 simulated stitching 30necklace 31 smaller bead 32 string 33 larger bead 34 simulated seam 40necklace 41 smaller bead 42 string 43 larger bead 44 panel 45 panel 46simulated seam 50 necklace 51 necklace 52 necklace 53 necklace 55necklace 56 string 57 small bead, first color 58 small bead, secondcolor 59 pendant 60 logo color, first color 61 logo color, second color62 lower mold section 63 cavity 64 upper mold section 65 cavity 66surface 67 surface 68 connection

[0044] All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature andpressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. Allmaterials used or intended to be used in a human being arebiocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

[0045] The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only;the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by thefollowing claims.

1. A method of marketing sports souvenir necklaces to sports fans of asports team that has at least two team colors, comprising the steps of:a) providing a necklace that is comprised of sports projectile shapedbeads; b) closely spacing the projectile shaped beads at intervals uponthe necklace and in sequentially spaced colored groups, wherein a firstplurality of the beads are of a first team color and a second pluralityof the beads are of a second team color; c) marketing the necklace ofsteps (a) and (b) to the sports fans.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising attaching one or more pendants to the necklace, wherein thependant is larger than the sports projectile shaped beads.
 3. The methodof claim 1 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads arefootball-shaped beads.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the sportsprojectile shaped beads are baseball-shaped beads.
 5. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are basketball-shapedbeads.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the sports projectile shapedbeads are soccer ball-shaped beads.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein thesports projectile shaped beads are hockey puck shaped beads.
 8. Anecklace made by the method of any preceding claim.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising the step of attaching a pendant to thenecklace that is colored with one of the team colors.
 10. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising the step of attaching a pendant to thenecklace that is colored with both of the team colors.
 11. The method ofclaim 9 wherein the pendant is a sports projectile shaped pendant. 12.The method of claim 10 wherein the pendant is of a sports team logoshape.
 13. A necklace, comprising: a) a plurality of beads that arefastened together to define a necklace body, a majority of the beadshaving a sports projectile shape; b) the beads comprising a plurality ofalternating groups of differing colors, including at least a first groupof adjacent beads of a first color and a second group of adjacent beadsof a second color, and c) a pendant that is supported by the necklacebody, the pendant displaying a plurality of colors including at leastthe first and second colors.
 14. The necklace of claim 13 wherein thebeads are football shaped beads.
 15. The necklace of claim 13 whereinthe beads are baseball shaped beads.
 16. The necklace of claim 13wherein the beads are basketball shaped beads.
 17. The necklace of claim13 wherein the beads are soccer ball shaped beads.
 18. The necklace ofclaim 13 wherein the beads are hockey puck shaped beads.
 19. A method ofmarketing a souvenir of a sports team having at least two team colors toa sports fan, comprising the steps of: a) providing a souvenir in theform of a necklace body that includes multiple, spaced apart beadshaving a shape of a sports projectile, and a pendant that displays atleast one of the team colors thereon and that is attached to thenecklace; b) grouping the beads in colored groups of beads thatalternate one team color for one group of beads with another team colorfor another group of beads; c) marketing the souvenir necklace to asports fan.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein each group of beadsincludes at least two beads of the same color.
 21. The method of claim19, further comprising attaching one or more pendants to the necklace,wherein the pendant is larger than the sports projectile shaped beads.22. The method of claim 19 wherein the sports projectile shaped beadsare football-shaped beads.
 23. The method of claim 19 wherein the sportsprojectile shaped beads are baseball-shaped beads.
 24. The method ofclaim 19 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads arebasketball-shaped beads.
 25. The method of claim 19 wherein the sportsprojectile shaped beads are soccer ball-shaped beads.
 26. The method ofclaim 19 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are hockey puckshaped beads.
 27. A necklace made by the method of any preceding claim.28. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of attaching apendant to the necklace that is colored with one of the team colors. 29.The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of attaching apendant to the necklace that is colored with both of the team colors.30. A necklace, comprising: a) a necklace body that includes a stringand a plurality of smaller sports projectile shaped beads directlymolded to the string, the string having a length and a majority of thelength having spaced apart sports projectile shaped beads; b) at leastone larger sports projectile shaped bead being supported by the necklacebody; and c) wherein a plurality of the sports projectile shaped beadshave simulated seams.
 31. The necklace of claim 30 wherein the beads arefootball shaped beads.
 32. The necklace of claim 30 wherein the beadsare baseball shaped beads.
 33. The necklace of claim 30 wherein thebeads are basketball shaped beads.
 34. The necklace of claim 30 whereinthe beads are soccer ball shaped beads.
 35. The necklace of claim 30wherein the beads are hockey puck shaped beads.
 36. A method ofmarketing a souvenir of a sports team having at least two team colors toa sports fan, comprising the steps of: a) providing a souvenir in theform of a necklace body that includes multiple, spaced apart beadshaving a shape of a sports projectile, and a pendant that displays atleast one of the team colors thereon and that is attached to thenecklace; b) grouping the beads in colored groups of beads thatalternate one team color for one group of be ads with another team colorfor another group of beads; c) marketing the souvenir necklace to asports fan.
 37. A method of making necklaces, comprising the steps of:providing a mold of sports projectile shaped beads for a necklace;placing a string or other line or cord in the mold; supplying plastic tothe mold; removing from the mold a necklace formed of sports projectileshaped beads direct-molded onto the string or other line or cord. 38.The method of claim 37, further comprising attaching an additionalsports projectile shaped bead to the necklace, wherein the additionalsports projectile shaped bead is larger than the sports projectileshaped beads direct-molded onto the string or other line or cord. 39.The method of claims 37 or 38, wherein the sports projectile shapedbeads are football-shaped beads.
 40. The method of claims 37 or 38,wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are baseball-shaped beads.41. The method of claims 37 or 38, wherein the sports projectile shapedbeads are basketball-shaped beads.
 42. The method of claims 37 or 38,wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are soccer ball-shaped beads.43. The method of claims 37 or 38, wherein the sports projectile shapedbeads are hockey-puck-shaped beads.
 44. A necklace made by the method ofany one of claims 37-43.
 45. Apparatus for performing the method of anypreceding claim.
 46. The invention(s) substantially as shown and/ordescribed herein.